Sustained development You’ve probably heard of New York City and Long Island. But you may not be familiar with Suffolk County. It’s one of the four counties that physically make up Long Island, New York. Suffolk County has a population of about 1.5 million. For decades, Nassau County had a larger population, but in the 1990 census, Suffolk surpassed it, due to the eastward movement of growth. Italian-Americans make up 28.8 percent of the Suffolk population, according to the nation’s 2000 census. But the people in Suffolk are diverse in origin and ethnicity, contributing to its rich culture.
The story of Suffolk is that a County must adapt to changing times. It converted unused meadows in to productive farms, provided timber for construction and harvested the Ocean for whale meat and blubber, when the English colony needed these inputs and in the decades after independence. However it was equally nimble to respond to housing needs between the two World Wars, and was quick to exploit rising incomes from the 1950s onwards to offer quality infrastructure for family life and recreation. Europeans migrated to the island, joining the Native Indians, who were probably the first inhabitants. The former brought transformations to the community livelihood. There was a shift from the primitive era of hunting and fishing, to developments in agriculture, commerce, and industry. The steady flow of development has been reliant on the Long Island Railroad and other road transport systems. These passages of development have opened Suffolk to the affluent eastern U.S. mainland.
Suffolk’s people, of varied origins, actively involve themselves in the County’s policy making. Suffolk and Nassau, unlike Brooklyn and Queens, have their own governments, with County Executives as leaders. During recent years, the politics in Suffolk have become somewhat more progressive than during the past. Suffolk County continues to captivate people with its communities lining the shores, including the world famous Hamptons. With the eastern part of Long Island splitting into the North and South Forks, The Hamptons caters to the rich and famous, with its waterside inns, upscale shopping, and luxurious restaurants. The Hamptons are responsible for the terms “House in the Hamptons” and “Hamptons summer share.” Suffolk is also the home of the Fire Island National Seashore -- a collection of long, narrow barrier islands--which have become a favorite tourist spot. Lighthouses, natural reserves, and parks for bird-watching or cross-country skiing abound in the area. This makes Suffolk County a favorite getaway of tourists, and especially New Yorkers, during the weekends. Suffolk is certainly balanced with managed growth and nature preservation. Suffolk County should be applauded for housing some of the nation’s most opulent mansions, and refusing to discriminate against any interested buyers of those expansive homes. Suffolk County Government --- Suffolk County Public Libraries more on Suffolk County New York
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Population (2010 Estimate) 1,498,816
Although Suffolk adapted to the rigorous demands of the economy, preserving the environment has still been one of the county’s priorities. It is a place for diverse purpose --- whether for business, permanent residence, or vacation. 